SME initiative cooperates on the topic of Industry 4.0

Innovative machine and plant producers in the sheet metal working sector launch a new association: “Industry Business Network 4.0 e.V.”

An SME initiative of innovative machine and plant producers has launched the new association “Industry Business Network 4.0 e.V.”. Together with strong partners from science and research, these producers from the sheet metal working sector are planning to open up the great potential of networked production in terms of Industry 4.0 for the user. The founding members include the companies Kemppi, Kemper, Kjellberg, MicroStep Europa and TÜV Süd. “Together with Fraunhofer IGCV and the University of Augsburg, we will rapidly implement solutions with tangible added value for our customers,” announced Igor Mikulina, the new association’s chairman (and CEO of MicroStep Europa GmbH) at the “Fertigung 4.0” congress, during which the new association was introduced to the public for the first time at the end of September.

The enormous enthusiasm at the joint start and a strong and harmonious alliance with innovative partners was clearly expressed by the founding members at the association’s presentation at the “Fertigung 4.0″ congress. What unites us is a common vision, mutual trust, a positive spirit and a general openness to innovation and change processes. This is why we in the association will be able to jointly tap the great potential of networked production for the benefit of users”, said Frederic Lanz, Managing Director of Kemppi GmbH in Germany and Vice President Marketing & Sales of Kemppi Oy. For Dr. Michael Schnick, cross-producer cooperation in the spirit of Industry 4.0 is the only true way forward: ”The name Kjellberg has always stood for innovation and will continue to do so. We look forward to working together. We believe that we can achieve a lot with our partners,” said the managing director of Oscar PLT GmbH, a subsidiary of Kjellberg Finsterwalde Plasma und Maschinen GmbH. And Björn Kemper, Managing Director of Kemper GmbH, stressed that: ”Industry Business Network 4.0 is not an exclusive club. The association is open to all innovative and cooperative companies in our industry.”

The goal is as follows: Together we, the member companies of Industry Business Network 4.0 e.V. in the coming months, will be working on an implementation guideline that will enable us to network machines and systems from different producers on the basis of existing standards such as OPC UA. The association members have already set themselves an ambitious goal for the first year of the project: By autumn 2017, the first applications will be developed for several priority value-added fields – such as maintenance, energy efficiency or occupational safety – and demonstrated in the context of a reference plant. The project is being supervised by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Johannes Schilp and his teams. Professor Schilp holds the chair of Production Informatics at the University of Augsburg and is a project manager at Fraunhofer IGCV.

The topics of safety and security will be handled by TÜV Süd from the very beginning and will play a central role in the development of a network infrastructure and the applications based on it. “TÜV has grown because it has not only tested and certified – it has also been involved in developments from the outset and has driven them forward.” Detlev Richter, Vice President of TÜV Süd Product Service GmbH, stressed: ”We want to and will continue this tradition.”

The presentation of the new association was the highlight of an eventful congress at the MicroStep CompetenceCenter in Bad Wörishofen. Over a total of three days at the end of September, visitors had the opportunity to gain first-hand information on the developments and opportunities of digital production and to exchange information and network with innovative companies. In addition to the representatives of the press, more than 100 congress participants from business, science, politics and industry listen to the speeches of top-class speakers.

The keynote speaker was the well-known science journalist and presenter Ranga Yogeshwar, who highlighted the huge possibilities of the digital revolution: ”If you as a medium-scaled company manage to network and cooperate, you will have a chance to tap the great potential of digitalization.”

Innovation Forum 4.0 ceremonial inaugurated

In the course of the congress, Innovation Forum 4.0 was also ceremonially inaugurated. These are premises within the MicroStep CompetenceCenter in Bad Wörishofen, which are equipped with multimedia presentation technology. By investing in the expansion of the demonstration and training centre, the world market leader in automated plasma cutting is meeting current developments: ”Industry 4.0, the Internet of Things and the Smart Factory are opening up completely new options and horizons. The new Innovation Forum 4.0 is an ideal place where innovative solutions can be introduced to the public in this context,” said Igor Mikulina in his opening speech. The space, which can function as a small trade fair value if required, should also become the central contact point on topics related to Industry 4.0 for the new association.

The new Innovation Forum 4.0 was already filled with life and technology during the “Manufacturing 4.0” congress. Several partners of the event presented their latest innovations. The company Böckelt reported on the Böckelt Tower, a flexible and automatable storage and logistics system. The consulting and technology company eniga introduced itself and its extensive service portfolio – in particular, this specialist is responsible for building intelligently networked production and service structures. Kemper demonstrated an intelligent, energy-saving room ventilation system with layer ventilation for welding fumes in production halls: the CleanAirTower. Kjellberg Finsterwalde exhibited its extensive portfolio of automated plasma and laser cutting technology – for example, highly efficient power sources that provide ultrahigh-precision results in complex manufacturing processes. Using a demonstration model, Guttroff presented a system for automated welding with a robot controlled by a web browser. The WeldEye system could be seen live in action at the Kemppi stand: With this solution, which is perfectly suited for the administration of multiple production sites, users are always informed about who has welded what where and with which qualifications, parameters and controls. Export and cooperation were the dominant themes at Bayern International’s stand: The company supports Bavarian SMEs in their first steps into new and established markets and is a key player in the Bavarian export industry.

Industry Business Network 4.0 e.V: There was great joy among the founding members of the SME initiative of innovative machinery and plant construction companies at the presentation of the association as part of the congress “Fertigung 4.0”

The SME initiative Industry Business Network 4.0 e.V presented itself to the public for the first time within the scope of the congress “Fertigung 4.0” in the MicroStep CompetenceCenter in Bad Wörishofen

Keynote speaker of the congress was the well-known science journalist and moderator Ranga Yogeshwar, who illustrated the huge opportunities offered by the digital revolution. “If you, as a medium-sized enterprise, manage to network and cooperate, then you have a chance.”

Prof. Dr. Diane Robers (EBS Universität Wiesbaden) explained that digitalisation is opening up new innovation approaches and business models for machine and plant manufacturers. “The biggest opportunity for medium and small businesses is building relationships with partners.”

A panel of experts led by Ranga Yogeshwar discussed the topic “Is the rest of the world running out of Europe? Opportunities for the middle class! “. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Johannes Schilp, dr. Matthias Köppel of the IHK Schwaben, Ministerialrat Dr. med. Markus Eder from the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Wolfgang Burchard from VDMA were also in agreement: Cooperations are the prerequisites for a positive future.

Within the new association, the topics of safety and security play a central role, which are also supported by TÜV Süd. “The TÜV has grown up because it not only tested and certified – it was involved in developments right from the start and drove them forward. We want to and will continue to do so, “emphasized Dr.-Ing. Detlev Richter, Vice President of TÜV Süd Product Service GmbH.

The new association was a big topic for the specialist magazines and media representatives present. Igor Mikulina, CEO of the new association and managing director of MicroStep Europa GmbH, was in high demand as the other founding members.

In the Innovation Forum 4.0 in the MicroStep CompetenceCenter, the partners of the event – consisting of Böckelt Tower, Gutroff, Kemper, Kjellberg Finsterwalde, Eniga and MicroStep Europa – presented their services, solutions and innovative technologies around the topic of Smart Factory.

On a total of three days, visitors had the opportunity to gain first-hand information about developments and opportunities in digital production and to exchange ideas and network with innovative companies.

The new partnership was traditionally celebrated at a Bavarian evening in Bad Wörishofen. The two founding members of the new manufacturer initiative, Frederic Lanz (Managing Director of Kemppi GmbH in Germany and Vice President Marketing & Sales Kemppi Oy) and Björn Kemper (Managing Director Kemper GmbH) were responsible for the draft beer.

Cheers for cooperation! At a Bavarian evening in the traditional inn Adler in Bad Wörishofen the successful start of the new association was celebrated.